Electron discharge device



Feb. 22, T1949. l- E. w. HEROLD 2,462,496

7 v ELECTRON DISCHARGE DEVICE I Filed April 24, 1942 2 sheets-sheet 1Fig 1.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY ZQww/w gamma make/m2;

E; w. HE ROLD ELECTRON DISCHARGE DEVICE Feb. 22, 1949.- 2,462,496

Filed April 24, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fso INVENTOR braid "9791mmPatented Feb. 22, 1949 ELECTRON DISCHARGE DEVICE Edward W. Herold,Verona, N. J., assignor to Radio Corporation of America, a corporationof Delaware I Application April 24, 1942, Serial No. 440,283

17 Claims.

My invention relates to electron discharge devices, more particularly tosuch devices utilizing beam deflection and suitable for use at very highfrequencies.

In conventional tubes of the type under consideration a beam ofelectrons is directed between a pair of deflectin electrodes toward anapertured electrode behind which is usually placed a collector.Alternating radio frequency voltages are applied to the deflectingelectrodes to cause the electron beam to be deflected across theaperture in the apertured electrode to thus control the amount ofcurrent flowing to the collector, which may be used as an outputelectrode. At frequencies above 600 megacycles per second it becomesdiflicult to obtain high transconductance because of the transit timeeffects resulting when the transit time of the electrons between theplates is equal to an appreciable part of a period of the applied radiofrequency voltages. It has been found best to make the deflecting plateswith a dimension in the direction of travel of the electron beamsubstantially equal to the distance travelled by an electron during ahalf period of the applied controlling voltage, or the electrical lengthis 1r radians, as expressed in the transit angle on.

This may best be explained by the following illustration: Assuming thatthe deflecting plates between which the electron beam is directed arecomparatively long and that a high frequency signal is applied to theplates, an electron which enters between the plates at the beginning ofthe cycle will be deflected in one direction, but before it hastravelled to the end of the plates the high frequency electric fieldwill be reversed so that deflection is reduced. As a result the electronmay leave the space between the plates with little deflection. However,if the time which the electron spends between the plates, or the transittime of the electron between the plates, is equal to a half period ofthe applied voltage, the deflection of the electron will always be inthe same direction and will be a maximum, since the electron leaves thespace between the plates before reversal of the field takes place, whichoccurs every half period of the high frequency signal. The maximumlength of the deflecting plates therefore should be such that electrontransit time is about one-half period.

Expressed mathematically, if 1- is the transit where T is the period,and j the frequency of the high frequency signal. The electrical angletor of the high frequency signal before it reverses phase is equal to1r, so expressed in angular form the above relation becomes 21rf1=w'r,which is equal to 1|- and it may be said that the electrical length ofthe deflecting plates should be 11' radians, as expressed in the transitangle arr,

While it has been found that maximum deflection will result when thedimension of the deflecting electrode in the direction of travel of thebeam is equal to the distance travelled by an electron during a halfperiod, at the higher frequencies the time spent by an electron betweenthe deflecting plates becomes increasingly small so that the amount ofdeflection also decreases since each individual electron is subjected todeflection field for a shorter period of time.

Attempts have been made to increase the deflection sensitivity or thetransconductance of the tube by multiple deflection brought about by aplurality of successively positioned oppositely disposed deflectingelements cross connected. This arrangement, however, is open to theobjection that the D. C. or static deflection is lower than the dynamichigh frequency deflection, that is the tube is difficult to test and inaddition the in the electrodes and leads.

structure required is not simple and does not lend itself readily tomass production.

In addition, due to accidental factors, such as possible space charge,misalignment and like factors, the phase relationship of the controllingvoltage on the deflecting plates to the deflected beam may not be suchas to produce with optimum results the additive deflection sought. Inother words, while the phase angle of the deflecting voltage on one pairof plates may be proper for maximum deflection, the voltage on the nextpair of deflecting plates may have a phase relationship leading orlagging that required for additive deflection. As a result of theout-of-phase relationship, the second pair of plates may not deflect thesame group of electrons to the same extent as a preceding pair of platesor a succeeding pair of plates.

In tubes intended for operation at ultra high frequencies, theconventional input circuits usually employed are subject to low resonantimpedance resulting in an excessive amount of power being required todrive the tube. This decreases the effective gain of the tube operated,for example, as an amplifier. Causes of such high input loading include,among other things, ohmic and radiation losses due to high circulatingcurrents The usual output circuit does not have the desired highimpedance for producing maximum output voltages so that voltagesdeveloped in the output do not reach the values they would otherwisehave, thus reducing the efiectiveness of the device.

It is an object of my invention to provide an electron discharge deviceof the beam deflection type whichsis particularly suitable .for use; athigh frequencies and which has a comparatively high transconductance.

It is another object of my invention to provide an improved device ofthe type described utilizin multiple additive deflection and of asimp1eme chanical construction. 7

.A still further object of. myeinvention is :to provide an electrondischarge device of the multiple deflection type, in which pro-perphaserelationship of the electron beam arid'the-radio frequency controllingvoltage exists to insure optimum operation.

It is.-.another.object of my invention to provide such. an electron,discharge device utilizing low lossehighimpedance circuits, thereby,increasing .theefiectiveness of the input controlling voltages1.an'd-ava'ilable..output voltages for givencondh .tions.

The novel features .whichlbelieve. to be characteristic ..of .my.invention are. set forth with particularity in-theappended claims, butthe invention itself .will bestbe understood by. refer- .ence. to thefollowingdescription taken in .con- .nection .With ..the accompanyingdrawing .in whichfEigurcllis along-itudinal. section of an electrondischarge-device made according to my .iinvention and .itslassociatedccircuit, -Figures .2 ;.and .3 are enlarged :cleta-ils ofconstruction of; the device shown inFigure I, Figure .4. isalongitlidinalschematic .view. of a. modification of the a. deviceshown-in Figure 1 with .a phase. adjusting -,circuit.;attachment,Figure.5 is a schematic .longitudinalisection. of still another or-m 'oimy.zinvention utilizinglow. loss-high impedance ..cir- .-.-cu-its;-.Figure dis .a sch matic longitudinal-section sand partial:perspective ora still further.- modi -r-ficati-onlof: my -invention and Figure 'l-isasection @Qf figure-.6 showing-details otconstructiou.

-Referring .to .Figure 1,.an :electrondischarge device made according tomy .invention 1 com prises they-evacuatednenvelope it containing. the:ousual. press l l and base i2. sSupported from the .press Joy. meansofsupport :andUlea-d wires are. the indirectly heated cathocle-t3= andbeam iorming --electrode M, .the relative. positions of which. areshown; in -'-Figure .3. --Mounted atztheotherend f! the envelope. I0 isthe'collector l5. Positioned -.-between-. the cathode and collectoris-the beam ;deflecting system comprising the tubular mem-..-ber.:l'6-:havingaplurality of transverse: partition- --1likeielements51,48 and t9 providedwith aligned iapertures l'1,,"l8 and 1-9. Aconducting element .ai-Ir the-form 'of a 'rod 2il--ex-tendslongitudinal-1y .ot the aperture -l 9- asshownzFi-gurefi to.provideiardoubleaperture so that the desired-control voltage anodecurrent characteristic isobtained.

@Imaccordancewith my, invention, between the transverse elements iS-a-nd-lS are aplurality-of =success-ively positioned-pairs ofdeflecting:elec- "strodes l Irand 22,= the elementson thesame side =--.of:t-her-pathrof the-electron beam. between cath- .-ode' l3 land collectorbeing: electrically con- .-nected together.- and supported by thesamesupuportuand lead wires. -Ifhe. distance betweenthe-..centers..of.-tl1ese electrodes. is equal to the. distance .travel1e'd.-.by an electron .during. a full pe-.-rind,oilthe.applieddeflecting voltage. The result of this arrangementis to produce successive additive deflection of the electron beam.Preferably the dimension of the deflecting electrodes in the directionof travel of the electron beam is equal to substantially a half periodalthough this dimension is not critical. A pair of Lecher wires 23shorted by the shorting bar 24 provides the inputcircuit to which'signalinput voltage :and localoscillator voltage may both be applied toproduce an intermediate frequency voltage "i I in the output circuit,which is connected between collector l5 and tubular member IE, andcomprises output transformer 25 and lay-passing condenser 26, thecondenser 26 permitting difierent D. C. voltages to be applied to thecollector is and to the: tubular member it. The collector 15 .may becoated with secondary emitting material, the secondary'electrons beingcollected by part1 .tion 19 or the primary electrons may be absorbed bythe collector l5 without any secondary emission amplification. -Thesource of voltage and divider arrangement. 22' permits the relativevoltages on deflecting elements 2i and 22 to be adjusted so that thebeam, with no radio frequency or oscillator voltage on the plates, willbe directed gyatxtherod 28 to center it with respect to the electrodesystem.

:In operation electrons from the indirectly heated cathode iii areformed into a beam and directed through apertures H and $8 in eleso.ments ii and it, which lastelement in combinaztion with the deflectingelement 2i may be arranged to provide an electron lens arrangement :forproviding a sharply focused beam on the rod iii. The electrons inpassing through elements i3 and i9 must pass between the deflecting ele---ments-2l and 22, the centers of the successive pairs of which arespaced a distance apart equal to the distance travelled by an electronduring a whole period. Thus, an electron which is demflectedeupwardlybetween'the first set of plates linand-22-willagain be deflectedupwardly between the second set. of plates 2i and 22, since the-phaserelationship of the voltage on the deflecting plates with respect to theelectron ifiwthe same between each pair of plates since a whole periodis required for the electronto travel from-any point between one-pair ofplates to a similar point between the next pair of deflecting plates.Thus thedeflection is amplified. The electron beam in being deflectedacross aperture 219' and rod 255 has the efiect of passing throughdouble apertured electrode so that the electron current with repect todeflecting voltage de- "creases to substantially zero when the beam is5:3 directed on rod 28 and rises on either side of the -minimum to-amaximum and again to zero depending upon the angle of deflection.

Thus with the arrangement shown support .for the deflecting elements'issimplified because so: all deflecting elements on one side of the beampath can be connected together. The transconductance or deflectionsensitivity is increased by .-insuri-ng successive additive deflection.It is, of course, obvious that more than 'two pairs of 55 deflectingelements could be used for the purpose of bringing about additivedeflection.

In Figure 4 I show an arrangement whereby ithe need for spacing thecenters of the pairs of deflecting elements predetermined distances :4;determined by the frequency of operation is unnecessary. As here shownthe envelope 30 contains cathode 3i, beam forming electrode 32 andcollector 33. The deflecting electrode system includes tubular .memvber.35, which is provided 7.; with aperturedtransverse partitions 35,'36 and31, the last aperture being provided with the rod 38 which bisects theaperture longitudinally to produce a double aperture to bring about thedesired control voltage-output current characteristic. Successive pairsof deflecting elements 39 and are positioned between elements 36 and 31.These electrode elements may be connected to Lecher wire systems 4! and42 to which the oscillator and signal voltages may be applied.

In order to insure that a proper phase relationship exists between thebeam passing through the deflecting electrode system and the controllingvoltages on the deflecting elements, a phasing arrangement including atrombone tuning element 44 is connected between the two Lecher wiresystems. By proper adjustment the coupling between the two deflectingsystems may be varied as to length so that the signal and oscillatorvoltages may be fed to the Lecher wire systems in proper phase toproduce maximum additive deflection between each pair of the deflectingelements, regardless of the spacing between pairs of deflectingelements. This simplifies manufacturing construction and also providesmeans for compensating for irregularities and accidental factors inconstruction and operation of the tube.

In order to increase further the efficiency of the tube disclosed, it ispossible to utilize circuits having high resonant impedances, such forexample as resonant cavity circuits or so-called resonators.

In Figure 5 is shown a modification of an electron discharge deviceutilizing my invention. In this form a pair of resonators are used forproducing additive deflection in combination with the phasingarrangement shown in Figure t. The envelope contains at one end cathodemeans 5! for providing a directed beam of electrons and at the other enda collector 52. The deflecting system comprises tubular elements 53 and56, and a pair of resonators 54 and 55, each of which is provided withopposed deflecting elements 5B and 55 and 6E! and El positioned withinthe resonators, one element of each pair being connected to an oppositewall. As is well known the resonators may be set into oscillation, andin one mode of operation an alternating voltage can be made to appearbetween the opposite Walls of the resonator at the apertures, theelements 53 and 59, for example, assuming the voltage of the side of theresonator to which it is attached so that a transverse electrostaticfield appears between the deflecting elements to deflect the beam ofelectrons laterally during operation of the device. To insure a properlydirected beam 1 may employ a pair of beam directing elements 5'!positioned between the apertured partition 53' and one Wall of theresonant cavity circuit 55. The second resonator 55 is provided withapertured member 62, provided with the rod-like connecting element 54 toprovide a double aperture. A voltage source and divider arrangementpermits the proper biasing voltages to be applied to beam directingelements 51. The output is taken between resonator 55 and collector 52by means of the output circuit including transformer 56 and by-passingcondenser 51, the voltage source 59 providing the necessary biasingvoltages. between the electron beam and the voltages appearing on thedeflecting elements 58 and 59, and 6B and 6! I again employ a trombonemethod of tuning using slide 58 to vary the length of the couplingcircuit and hence controlling the To insure proper phase relationshipphase relationship of the voltages appearing between the pairs ofdeflecting elements and the electron beam.

A still further modification of my invention is shown in Figure 6employing a four-wire transmission line. In this arrangement theenvelope it has positioned at one end the cathode H and beam formingelement i2, which may be electrically connected to the cathode lead. Thecollector T3 is positioned at the other end of the envelope and thedeflecting system is positioned between the cathode and collector. Thedeflecting system includes tubular member 14 provided with aperturedtransverse elements l5, l6 and ii. The pairs of deflecting electrodes 18and T9 are positioned between transverse elements 16 and l? and areconnected to transmission line comprising elements 89 and 8! shorted byshorting bar 82 which may be positioned so that the distance from theplates to the shorting bar is equal to one-quarter or three-quarters ofa wavelength. The input voltage may be applied as indicated, the twosides of the lines being cross connected by means of conductors 84 and53 so as to bring about a proper phase relationship of the radiofrequency Voltages appearing between the deflecting elements. To permitproper biasing potentials to be applied to the deflecting elements 78and 15, conductors 88, 89, 95 and 5| extend through tubular elements andiii, the elements Eli and 8! being connected to deflecting elements 18and 19 for radio frequency by means of coupling condensers such as 85and 85. Voltages for applying proper D. C.

Y potentials to the deflecting elements are obtained from voltage source81. With the arrangement shown the D. C. static characteristics of thedevice may be examined by changing the connections to the deflectingelements.

While I have indicated the preferred embodiments of my invention ofwhich I am now aware and have also indicated only one specificapplication for which my invention may be employed, it will be apparentthat my invention is by no means limited to the exact forms illustratedor the use indicated, but that many variations may be made in theparticular structure used and parting from the scope of my invention asset forth in the appended claims. the purpose for which it is employedwithout de- What I claim as new is:

1. An electron discharge device having a cathode for supplying a beam ofelectrons and a collector for receiving said electrons, and an aperturedmember positioned between said cathode and collector throughwhich saidbeam of electrons may be directed toward said collector, and deflectingmeans positioned between the cathode and apertured member and includinga plurality of successive pairs of oppositely disposed deflectingelements between which the beam of electrons is directed, saiddeflecting elements of each pair being adapted to have an alternatingpotential of high; frequency applied therebetween, said pairs ofdeflecting elements being spaced along the path of travel of theelectron beam and means coupled with said deflecting elements foradjusting the phase relation-ship of the applied voltage on each pair ofdeflecting elements to provide optimum additive deflection of said beamof electrons.

2. An electron discharge device having a cathode for supplying a beam ofelectrons and a collector for receiving said electrons, and an aperturedmember positioned between said cathode wpairs ofqdefiecting elementsbeing spaced along ithepath of travel of the electron beam and arphasejcontrol circuit connected between successive pairsofdeilectingelements for adjusting the phase relationship of the applied voltage oneach pair-ofdeflecting elements to provide optimum additive 1 deflectionof said beam of electrons across the apertured element.

5-3,;An electron discharge device having a cathtode for supplying a beamof electrons and a colelector for receiving said electrons, deflectingqmeansposition-ed between the cathode and colj' le'ctor and including aplurality of successive pairs -;-.of-,opposite ly disposed deflectingelements be- .tween which the beam of electrons is directed,

Eancladapted to have analternating potential of Ihighfrequencyappliedbetween the elements of "each pair, all-of the deflecting elements onone -side of-the beam path lying in one plane andallitheudeflectingelements on the other side of the beamv pa-thlying ina plane parallel to the 'flrstplane, transmission line means connected-;hetw een the successive pairs of oppositely dis- "posed deflectingelements and means coupled to said transmission line for varying thelength of said transmission line 'for determining the phase irelationship of the alternating potential of high frequency on saiddeflecting elements with respect to the beam of electrons to provideoptimum additive deflection of said beam of electrons.

4. An electron discharge device'having a cathcdeforlsupplying a beam ofelectrons and a collector for receiving said electrons, deflecting---means positioned between the cathode and collectorand including aplurality of successive pairs of oppositely disposed deflecting elementsbetween which the beam of electrons is directed and adapted to have analternating potential of high frequency applied between the elements ofeach pair, conducting means surrounding said deflecting elements, saidconducting means having aligned apertures through which the beam ofelectrons is directed, a transmission line coupled between successivepairs of oppositely ldisposed deflecting elements for applying an alterinating potential of high frequency to said ele- -ments, and meanscoupled to said transmission line for varying the length of saidtransmission line for determining the phase relationship of thealternating potential on said deflecting ele ments with respect to thebeam of electrons to provide optimum additive deflection of said beam ofelectrons.

5. An electrondischarge device having a cathode forsupplying a beam ofelectrons and a collector for receiving said electrons, deflecting meanspositioned between the cathode and collector and including a pluralityof successive pairs of oppositely disposed deflecting elements betweenwhich the beam of electrons is directed and adapted to have analternating potential of high frequency applied between the elements of-:-each--pair,alldeflecting elements on one side of e -beam :path lyingin-one plane and all de- ,fiecting-elementsonetheother side of,;the beam58 path lying in-av plane parallelto the first plane, conducting meanssurrounding said deflecting elements, said conducting meanshavingaligned apertures through which the beam of electrons isvclirectedpand a tuned transmission line con- 'nected to each of saidpairs of deflecting eleoptimumadditive deflection of said beam ofelectrons.

16. An electron discharge device having a cathode for supplying a beamof electrons and a collector for receiving said electrons, anddeflecting means positioned between said cathode and collector andincluding a plurality of successive hollow conducting members havingapertures through which the beam of electrons is directed, deflectingelem nts separate from the Wall of said hollow conducting members andpositioned within each of the hollow conducting .-=e nbers and connectedto the Walls .of said cong members adjacent the apertures for rea highfrequency alternating potential .n, and between which the beam ofelectrons is directed for laterally deflecting said beam of electrons,and a coupling transmission line connected between saidhollowlconducting members and adapted to have an alternating potentialof high frequency applied thereto for ensaid hollow conducting members,and

means coupled to said coupling transmission line for varying the lengthof the coupling transmission line for determining the phase relationshipor the alternating potential on said deflecting elements.

'7. An electron discharge device havinga cathode for supplying a beam ofelectrons and a collector for receiving said electrons, a pair ofsuccessively positioned resonators positioned in the beam path andhaving apertures aligned with the beam path for permitting the beam topass through said resonators, and deflecting elements separate from thewalls of said resonator positioned within each of said resonators andelec trically connected to and supported by opposite walls of saidresonators adjacent the apertures a coupling circuit connected betweensaid resonators and adapted to have a controlling alternating potentialof a high frequency applied to said coupling circuit for energizing saidreso- Ira-tors, and means coupled to said coupling-cincuit' for varyingthe coupling circuit for controlling the phase relationship of the highfrequency alternating potentials on said deflecting elements withrespect to said beam of electrons.

8. An electron'discharge device having a cathode for supplying a beamofelectrons and a collector for receiving said electrons, a pair ofsuccessively positioned resonators positioned in the path and havingapertures aligned with the beam path for permitting the beam-to passthrough said resonators, and-deflecting elements separate from andtransverse to the walls of said resonators and positioned within each ofsaid resonators and electrical y connected to and supported by oppositewalls of each of; saidresopato s adiece th a er ures; f subjecting telectron beam to lateral deflection, a transmission line couplingcircuit connected between said resonators and adapted to have acontrolling alternating potential of a highfrequency applied to saidtransmission line for energizing said resonators, and means coupled tosaid transmission line for varying the length of said transmission line,and means between the cathode and the first of said resonators fordirecting the beam of electrons through said resonators.

9. An electron discharge device having a cathode for supplying a beam ofelectrons and a collector for receiving said electrons, a pair ofsuccessively positioned resonators positioned in the beam path andhaving apertures aligned with the beam path for permitting the beam topass through said resonators, and deflecting elements separate from andtransverse to the walls of said resonators and positioned within each ofsaid resonators and electrically connected to and supported by oppositewalls of each of said resonators adjacent the apertures for subjectingthe electron beam to lateral deflection, a coupling circuit connectedbetween said resonators and energizing said resonators,

10. An electron discharge device including a cathode for supplying abeam of electrons, and

:a collector for receiving said electrons, and means positioned betweenthe cathode and collector for periodically deflecting the beam ofelectrons, and including a plurality of pairs of successively positioneddeflecting elements, all of the deflecting elements on one side of the'beam path lying in one plane and all deflecting elements on the otherside of the beam path lying in a plane parallel to the first plane,conducting mean-s surrounding said deflecting elements and havingoppositely disposed apertures through which the beam of electrons isdirected, and a transmission line connected between the elements of eachpair of deflecting elements, said transmission line including a pair ofparallel conductors, and mean-s slidable longitudinally of thetransmission lines for Varying the length of the transmission lines, andmeans electrically cross-connecting the conductors of the transmissionlines.

11. An electron discharge device including a cathode for supplying abeam of electrons, and a collector for receiving said electrons, andmeans positioned between the cathode and collector for periodicallydeflecting the beam of electrons, and including a plurality of pairs ofsuccessively positioned deflecting elements for additively deflectingthe beam of electrons in the same direction, means disposed between thecollector and deflecting mean having an aperture through which the beamof electrons is directed, and a transmission line connected between theelements of each pair of deflecting elements, each of the transmissionlines including a pair of parallel conductors, and a common conductingmeans shorting all of said conductors, and means electricallycross-connecting the conductors of the transmission lines for applyinginput voltages in proper phase on said pairs of deflecting elements.

12. An electron discharge device including a 10 cathode for supplying abeam of electrons, and a collector for receiving said electrons, andmeans positioned between the cathode and collector for periodicallydeflecting the beam of electrons, and including a plurality of pairs ofsuccessively positioned deflectingelements means disposed between thecollector and deflecting means having an aperture through which the beamofelectrons isdirected ,v and a transmission line connected between theelements of each pair of deflecting elements, each of said transmissionlines including a pair of parallel conductors, all of said conductorsbeing parallel to each other and conducting means engaging all or saidpar- -.l conductors and movable longitudinally; thereof forsimultaneously tuning both of said transmission lines and meansconnected to the transmission lines for applying an alternating voltageof high frequency to said transmission lines.

13. An electron discharge device having a cathode for supplying a beamof electrons and a collector for receiving said electrons, anddeflecting means positioned between the cathode and collector andincluding a plurality of successively positioned hollow conductingmembers having apertures through which the beam of electrons is directedand deflecting elements positioned within and separate from the walls ofeach of the hollow conducting members and connected with the walls ofsaid hollow conducting member-s adjacent the apertures for receiving ahigh frequency alternating potential thereon and etween which the beamof electrons is directed for laterally deflecting said beam ofelectrons.

14. An electron discharge device having a cathode for supplying a beamof electrons and a collector for receiving said electrons, anddeflecting means positioned between the cathode and collector andincluding a plurality of successively positioned hollow conductingmembers having apertures through which the beam of electrons is directedand deflecting elements positioned within and separate from the walls ofeach of the hollow conducting members and connected with the walls ofsaid hollow conducting members adjacent the apertures for receiving ahigh frequency alternating potential thereon and between which the beamof electrons is directed for laterally deflecting said beam ofelectrons, and coupling means connected between said hollow conductingmembers and adapted to have an alternating potential of high frequencyapplied thereto for energizing said hollow conducting members.

15. An electron discharge device having a cathode for supplying a beamof electrons and a collector for receiving said electrons, anddefleeting means positioned between the cathode and collector andincluding a plurality of successively positioned hollow conductingmembers having apertures through which the beam of electrons is directedand deflecting elements separate from the walls of and positioned withineach of the hollow conducting members and connected with the walls ofsaid hollow conducting members adjacent the apertures for receiving ahigh frequency alternating potential thereon and between which the beamof electrons is directed for laterally deflecting said beam ofelectrons, and coupling means connected between said hollow conductingmembers and adapted to have an alternating potential of high frequencyapplied thereto for energizing said hollow conducting members, and meanscoupled to said coupling 7 11 means for varying the'coupling means fordetermining the phase of the alternating potential on said deflectingelements.

- 16. An electron discharge device including a cathode for supplying abeam of electrons and a collector for receiving said electrons, andmeans positioned between the cathode and collector for periodicallydeflecting said beam of' electrons and including a plurality of pairs ofsuccessively positioned deflecting elements, the elements of each pairof successively positioned deflecting elements lying inthe same plane todeflect said beam of electron-s in the same plane, conducting meanssurrounding said deflecting elements and having oppositely disposedapertures through which the beam of electrons is directed, atransmission line connected between the elements of each pair ofdeflecting elements, each transmis- 'sion line including apairof'parallel conductors,

mean-s'terminating the transmission lines, and means connected to thetransmission line for applying an alternating voltage of high frequencyto said transmission lines.

17.An electron discharge device having a cathode for supplying a beam ofelectrons and an electrode toward which said electrons are directed, anapertured member positioned between said cathode and said electrode andthrough which the beam of electrons may be directed toward saidelectrode, and deflecting means positioned between the cathode andapertured member and including a plurality of successive pairs ofoppositely disposed deflecting 1' 2 elements through which-the beam ofelectrons is directed andadapted to have alternating po: tential of:high frequency applied between'the' elementsoieachpairgcircuit meansconnected between thed'iiectingelements' of each pair and means coupiedwithlsaid circuits for adjustingthe phase relatiehshipof the appliedvoltage on eachpairoi deflecting elements to provide an optimum added-deflection for said beam of electrons.

EDWARD W. HEROLD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

. UNITED STATES PATENTS

